Justice News

SW Washington Repeat Offender Sentenced to more than Seven Years in Prison for Gun and Drug Crimes

Defendant Arrested Twice With A Firearm And Meth

A repeat offender who repeatedly distributed meth while armed with a firearm was sentenced yesterday to seven and a half years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. In December 2011, LANDON KUSH, 34, was arrested at a Vancouver, Washington motel with methamphetamine packaged for distribution and a loaded Browning, .25 caliber, semi-automatic pistol stored in the trunk of his car. Kush was charged in Clark County Superior Court and released on Abail. Even as those charges were pending KUSH returned to drug dealing. On January 5, 2012, officers found meth in a car that Kush abandoned after an accident. When he was arrested on federal charges in February 2012, a search of his hotel room revealed a loaded Glock .45 caliber pistol. At sentencing U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton said KUSH had the longest criminal record he had seen, calling him a “dangerous, dangerous man” and a “persistent criminal.”

According to records filed in the case, KUSH already had convictions for robbery, eluding police and dealing drugs when he was taken into custody in December 2011.

KUSH pleaded guilty at his sentencing hearing to Possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

The case was investigated by the SWIGET (Southwest Integrated Gang Enforcement Team), which is made up of officers and agents of the FBI, Vancouver Police Department (VPD), Clark County Sheriff’s Department and the Washington State Department of Corrections. SWIGET was formed to combat violent gang crime in the Vancouver, Washington area.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Dion and Thomas Woods.